Apple’s iPad is here

Six different models

APPLE HAS JUST announced its latest addition, the iPad. We’re not sold on the name, but one of the big news items here is that Apple might be forced to change the name, as iPad was a registered trademark of Fujitsu Japan and there’s also a company called Magtek that sells a product called the IPAD. But that’s for another day; let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer.

Feature wise the predictions weren’t too far off, as the iPad has a 9.7-inch IPS display with full capacitive multi-touch. The iPad weighs in at 1.5lbs (or about 680g) and half an inch thick (that’s about 1.27cm) which at least makes it a very portable device, albeit you’d need some seriously big pockets.

But what really stands out is the fact that the iPad actually has the rumoured custom Apple CPU which is called the A4 and operates at 1GHz. There will be 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models and the iPad does of course feature 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, an accelerometer, a digital compass, a built in speaker and microphone as well as an Apple sync connector. The new CPU features integrated OpenGL ES graphics suggesting that it’s an ARM based processor. The OS is similar to that on the iPhone, something that was widely speculated ahead of the launch.

The battery life is rated at 10h of usage and “over a month of standby”. We’re not sure how useful the latter is, but at least it means that it won’t run out of juice just lying around. To get software on to your iPad you need to sync it with a host computer, just like you have to do with the iPhone. For the environmentally concerned the iPad doesn’t contain any arsenic, mercury, BGR or PVC and it’s of course recyclable.

There’s no built in camera in the iPad which seems like a missed opportunity. It also doesn’t have an OLED display as some were hoping for, but this wasn’t really expected either. The lack of memory expansion wasn’t really a surprise. There’s no word on multi-touch support at the moment, but this may or may not be part of it.

The new CPU and graphics solution allows for some half decent game play and iPhone games can be blown up to fill the entire screen. It does of course also function as a fancy ebook reader/digital news paper and it also has a finger paint application for those feeling creative. Apple has also made a custom version of iWork for the iPad which gives it a little bit more of a productivity angle. The new version of iWork has been given a serious overhaul, although we’re not sure how many people would be willing to write an essay or report using a virtual keyboard. Each of the new iWork apps are charged at $9.99.

So what’s missing, well 3G connectivity and it seems like Apple will offer a separate SKU that offers 3G data. The good news here is that Apple has teamed up with AT&T – okay, this might not be so good – to offer an unlimited data service over 3G for $29.99 a month for the iPad. A 250MB a month bundle is also available at $14.99 a month. Further good news is the fact that all 3G iPad’s will be unlocked, but there’s a slight catch here, as Apple has decided to use a new type of SIM card that’s called micro SIM which isn’t exactly widely available.

Apple will also be offering a standard dock as well as a keyboard dock – yes, that’s weird. The keyboard dock looks like someone has glued the dock to the back of an Apple keyboard. We’re not sure if this is the best idea Apple has ever had, as it looks quite awkward to use as the screen of the iPad will be really close to the keyboard. The only other accessory that was announced is a protective case that doubles up as a stand or as a back support that angles the screen for when you’re typing on the iPad and want a slightly better typing angle.

Finally we have the pricing. Starting with the WiFi models the 16GB models comes in at $499, the 32GB is $599 and the 64GB version is $699. The 3G models are a fair bit more expensive, as the 16GB model starts at $629, 32GB goes for $729 and finally the 64GB version is steep $829. The WiFi models will be available within 60 days with the 3G models taking a further 30 days until you can get your hands on one.

There are still a lot of details missing and we can’t say that we’re blown away with what Apple has shown, despite some very fancy application UI’s, including that of Apple’s iBook store/reader. The pricing was far lower than most estimated which is very positive, but it’s not like you can swap your iPhone or iPod touch for an iPad, as the latter is simply just not as portable. Overall today’s announcement didn’t really make us want to run out and get an iPad (not that we could’ve even if we wanted to), but it looks like Apple has at least come up with a solid piece of kit. However, we very much doubt it’ll be the best tablet device in terms of features and hardware we’ll see this year, although Apple has the advantage of a solid software platform and a unique following by its users to its advantage.S|A

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Charlie Demerjian is the founder of Stone Arch Networking Services and SemiAccurate.com. SemiAccurate.com is a technology news site; addressing hardware design, software selection, customization, securing and maintenance, with over one million views per month. He is a technologist and analyst specializing in semiconductors, system and network architecture. As head writer of SemiAccurate.com, he regularly advises writers, analysts, and industry executives on technical matters and long lead industry trends. Charlie is also a council member with Gerson Lehman Group. FullyAccurate

Thomas Ryan is based in Seattle, Washington. Thomas first began to appreciate the wonders of the semiconductor industry while doing research on his previous favorite hobby, PC gaming. Having co- purchased his first computer at the ripe old age of 11, with $150 and the help of Craigslist he's been buying and building computers ever since.

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